Srisailam

MallikarjunaSwamy Temple, Srisailam

Sri MallikarjunaSwamy is known for being one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.It is one of the most powerful shrines of Lord Shiva in the world and is located on the banks of the Krishna River in Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh. Various legends surround this temple that can be traced back to Shiv Purana- an epic dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is said that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati stayed here for a while making the land holy. This majestic temple stands on top of a hill which is said to be a manifestation of Nandi. This well visited temple has many other Shiva temples in its vicinity, which has enhanced its religious significance. The temple was built six centuries ago by Vijayanagar’s King Harihara Ray and the temple still has most of the ancient architecture and designs. The temple draws huge crowds during festive occasions like Shivaratri.